In business, productivity is a matter of numbers. If John can bake five cakes in two hours but Paul can only complete three in the same amount of time, perhaps it is time to either train or let the latter go, especially if both of them are being compensated with the same salary.
Life, however, is not that easy. Some days, we feel as though we have boundless energy and can work for hours without needing even a bathroom break. On others, we can barely get out of bed and have to drag ourselves to complete even the most menial of tasks.
As a result, we cannot measure productivity as we would with a machine. Instead, we need to understand the framework of our own lives and act based on the specific situations we may find ourselves in.
With that in mind, let us explore three ways to lead a happier, more productive life.
Holistic Self-Improvement
When people think about self-improvement, the vast majority of them imagine changing their behavior to become the best version of themselves, embarking on a health and fitness journey that includes regular exercise and proper dieting, or learning valuable job-related skills like IT, a second or third language, or specific courses like accounting, giving convincing, captivating presentations, or conducting effective negotiations.
Naturally, they are not mistaken. These and others are all suitable examples of self-improvement. Still, one aspect that is often overlooked is a human being’s exterior, namely his face and body. For many, those interested in being pretty are superficial and vain. But while this may be true in some individuals, it isn’t in all.
If you’ve been in an accident, have undergone a tattoo removal procedure, or still carry the effects of acne scarring, there’s nothing wrong with looking into laser skin treatment or other solutions to improve the way you look. If it gives you the confidence you need to excel in life and have the financial means to cover for it, there’s nothing wrong with feeling great about yourself every time you look in the mirror.
What You Can With What You’ve Got
If you work in the translation and interpretation business, the more languages you can master, the more opportunities you will have, and the more opportunities you have, the higher your income will be. Likewise, if you have 10 of the most valuable IT certifications at your disposal, chances are you will be more attractive to potential recruiters than if you possess only two or three. This is as straightforward and common sense a statement as you can make, and there are no two ways around it.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you should enroll in Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and Arabic courses as soon as possible. In all honesty, it would be rather counterproductive to take this approach as you will know many ways to say the same thing but not well enough to earn you a decent living, not to mention a waste of valuable time.
We are all given abilities and the potential to make something great out of them. Because of this, the key should be to find what we are good at and then nurture it and make it grow. Only then will we be able to maximize it and see the wonderful results.
Flexibility in Goal Setting
A SMART goal is a common acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. For instance, if I say my objective is to lose 10 pounds (4.54 kg) in a month by walking 30 minutes at a time two or three times a week and cutting the number of calories I eat to less than 1,500 per day, the odds of this happening are pretty high. On the other hand, if I voice out my desire to shed unwanted weight but don’t have a plan or deadline, I will more than likely not succeed.
Sounds pretty easy, right? Yet, if that is the case, why are there so many men and women in America and other countries worldwide struggling with obesity? If it is as simple as setting a SMART goal and sticking to it, why don’t we all look like Hollywood celebrities, star athletes, and Victoria’s Secret runway supermodels?
The fact is goal setting is just one part of the equation. There are also others like adapting to evolving circumstances, accepting that sometimes you will lose individual battles that shouldn’t derail you from achieving your aims and having an open mind to change.
If you want to be happier and more productive, look to improve all facets of your life and work with what you have at your disposal. Finally, set flexible goals and maintain an open outlook. These are simple steps we can all take to make the best out of every day we have.
